通过最新发生的大震的同震地表变形与由地貌证据和地质记录所确定的史前地震破裂的长度、形态结构以及滑动量进行比较，对于评价最新一次地震破裂是否为这条断裂上的典型破裂事件提供了一种方式。本申请拟以"玉树断裂的长期累积位移和特征同震位移"为切入点，通过选择2010年玉树Ms7.1级地震地表破裂和长期累积位移的典型地点开展地质和地貌调查，并结合高分辨率卫星影像解译和古地震探槽研究，确定玉树断裂上几个地震周期内的累积位移并估算特征同震位错，同时识别玉树断裂的永久性破裂边界以确定玉树断裂上的特征破裂段，并将研究结果与2010年地震同震位移和地表破裂带范围进行对比，进而确定2010玉树Ms7.1地震是否为一次非特征事件。该项研究可望对于更好地理解和认识玉树断裂的重复滑动行为并预测断裂上未来破裂事件的位置和强度提供帮助，同时对于特征地震模型的检验和完善也将提供重要的实例。

Comparison of co-seismic surface deformation recorded during large earthquakes with evidence of past extents, geometries, and magnitudes of slip as defined by morphological evidence and geological record in outcrops or in trench excavations provides a means to assess whether a recent surface rupture should be considered typical for a particular fault. The occurrence of the 2010 Ms7.1 Yushu earthquake and resulting mappable co-seismic surface deformation offer an ideal location to conduct such a study. The 2010 Ms7.1 Yushu earthquake generated a 30-km-long surface rupture with an average coseismic displacement of 1.0m. The aims of this project are to evaluate whether the 2010 earthquake is a non-characteristic rupture event. Using geological and geomorphic field investigations combined with interpretation of high-resolution satellite images, we will determine cumulative offsets through several earthquake cycles, based on observations of cumulative horizontal offsets of stream channels and some coseisimic surface offsets of the 2010 earthquake created by strike slip motion on the Yushu fault. We also conduct paleoearthquake study by excavating in the field. Based on these observations, we discuss the implications of the data for the role of the 2010 event in recurrence behavior of the Yushu fault. Such assessments aid our understanding of repeated fault behavior and help us to predict the likely location and magnitude of future rupture events on the fault.